G_Mulligan
Tour Rookie
Ok firstly I don't mean playing with a chip on your shoulder or being an arrogant person or golfer necessarily. By ego I mean focussed on results. Do you dwell on your score, your results and those of other golfers? Do you care more about how others perceive you as a golfer than perhaps you do yourself? Can you enjoy a game of golf without playing well or even while playing badly? Do you get embarrassed and frustrated by poor shots/holes/rounds?
This was me. I started to fall out of love with golf about 10 weeks ago. My scores were not coming down, I was trying to avoid mistakes especially when playing in comps with strangers. I felt constantly judged by other golfers especially doing what I do and yet having such a high handicap. I made a 2-3 week neck injury last 8 weeks. I stopped coming on this very forum because I was sick of being judged (real and imagined) based on that bloody number that defined me as a golfer.
Last week I went out in a comp with two players I have never me before I shot 102 of the indigo's over the round I lost three balls oob, one in the water and shot a 12 on the par 5 17th with 4 shots from one bunker. I can honestly say I have never ever enjoyed golf more. I no longer cared what they thought, I no longer cared about my short term score on any given day. I have spent the last month reading and absorbing everything I can find on Flow, Kaizen, Mindfulness and anything and everything else I can get my hands on in that area. The most important thing I have learned is that Mastery beats Ego in the long run.
Mastery orientated people care about the process of long term improvement not quick fixes and short term scores. A mastery mindset will insulate you from what others think and having to impress. Mastery will make your practice sessions far more focussed and effective and your golf way way more enjoyable. Golf has this overwhelming undeniable yard stick that follows you everywhere. What is the first question you get asked by other golfers or friends/family members after a round..."how did you play?" followed in a close second by "What did you shoot?" What do people ask when they find out you are a golfer "What is your handicap?" The ego trap in laid everywhere and you must make a conscious decision to ignore it.
In a separate thread someone was asking if something another golfer was trying had worked, had it reduced his or anyone else's handicap. Someone else claimed they were gullable suckers wasting money and yet another called it 'guff'. His reply was an almost perfect reply of a mastery mindset. His handicap has gone up but he did not avoid the question. He is enjoying golf more than ever and more importantly enjoying the process of long term improvement. He is dedicated to this new way of thinking and playing and confident it will work in the long run. I would wish him luck but he genuinely does not need it.
This was me. I started to fall out of love with golf about 10 weeks ago. My scores were not coming down, I was trying to avoid mistakes especially when playing in comps with strangers. I felt constantly judged by other golfers especially doing what I do and yet having such a high handicap. I made a 2-3 week neck injury last 8 weeks. I stopped coming on this very forum because I was sick of being judged (real and imagined) based on that bloody number that defined me as a golfer.
Last week I went out in a comp with two players I have never me before I shot 102 of the indigo's over the round I lost three balls oob, one in the water and shot a 12 on the par 5 17th with 4 shots from one bunker. I can honestly say I have never ever enjoyed golf more. I no longer cared what they thought, I no longer cared about my short term score on any given day. I have spent the last month reading and absorbing everything I can find on Flow, Kaizen, Mindfulness and anything and everything else I can get my hands on in that area. The most important thing I have learned is that Mastery beats Ego in the long run.
Mastery orientated people care about the process of long term improvement not quick fixes and short term scores. A mastery mindset will insulate you from what others think and having to impress. Mastery will make your practice sessions far more focussed and effective and your golf way way more enjoyable. Golf has this overwhelming undeniable yard stick that follows you everywhere. What is the first question you get asked by other golfers or friends/family members after a round..."how did you play?" followed in a close second by "What did you shoot?" What do people ask when they find out you are a golfer "What is your handicap?" The ego trap in laid everywhere and you must make a conscious decision to ignore it.
In a separate thread someone was asking if something another golfer was trying had worked, had it reduced his or anyone else's handicap. Someone else claimed they were gullable suckers wasting money and yet another called it 'guff'. His reply was an almost perfect reply of a mastery mindset. His handicap has gone up but he did not avoid the question. He is enjoying golf more than ever and more importantly enjoying the process of long term improvement. He is dedicated to this new way of thinking and playing and confident it will work in the long run. I would wish him luck but he genuinely does not need it.
